Hi Gordy,
We are also looking at Mexico & India for retirement in the next 4 to 5 years. Where we end up finally will depend upon where our daughter settles. Please stay in touch and let us know where would be a good place to retire.
Thx
IndiCa

Welcome to the expat forum, indica. My current plans, although I tend to change my mind a lot, are to head to Mexico in November, and travel around looking at my long list of possible places to settle. I'll report in as I go along.

This could suit you.

I was just looking at Michelle Alison's website and Mar del Plata looks like a wonderful place.
Synthia thanks for the welcome.

Thanks for the compliment - my children say it's not professional, but it comes straight from the heart - how did you find my website?

Thanks Synthia for opening this forum. I/we had been thinking about retiring early for a very long time but could not decide on what we were looking for other than getting the hell as far from snow as possible. After reading your wish list we came up with our:
1: Safety. Mexico/US is Okay, but Mexico City/Washington DC/Baghdad is NOT.
2: Close to city but not in the city, unless it's Paris/Barcelona/Milano.
3: Language. At least some English. This give my better half some time to learn the local language. I am lousy with languages.
4: Should be close to a beach/mountain/hill but not in the middle of nowhere.
5: And oh yes, all the things you mentioned for less than $1000/month.

And guess what, last September when I was in India, we bought a small house outside Bombay (I refuse to call my city Mumbai) India. We are looking forward to enjoying our new home once our daughter finishes her university in 2 to 4 short years.

So how did you decide on Bombay? What I liked was kind of silly. I stayed in the Fort area, near the station, and I liked walking around and not being accosted by people trying to sell me things. All the shops and vedors are set up to sell to computers. As a tourist, I didn't look like I needed a new wastebasket or spatula, so I was ignored. That was areal treat.

Hi Gordy

Just thought I would reply to your query, this is the first time on here, anyway it may be useful for you. I don't know how often you have been to Goa, but I have been a few times, and these are the things I have noticed. The rainy season starts March through to Sept, and rains like mad. The roads become dangerous and beaches are closed. The charter flights to UK stop in this time. You are not able to buy property in Goa, but they will always be happy to put it in their name for you (bit of a scam) friends fell for that and turned up unannounced to the apartment to find a local family living and paying the india 'sponser' rent! You have to be prepared for third world hygiene and medical care can be a long taxi ride away. A 'snowbird' situation may be the solution, and renting an apartment for 6 months, this can be as cheap as £150 per month, for a reasonable . although poorly furnished place. Some of the better hotels are happy to quote directly for long stay. On a real budget you can get away with a room above a business for as little as £5 per day max.It is a falacy that you can purchase property in Goa, even leasehold.
Last time there noticed the expat was increasing, even getting local bars to have bingo and quiz nights!!!! The place will soon become like Spain, even some bars are renaming, such as 'THe British Bar' etc etc. On the beach side the sea is really quite dangerous, with strong rip tides, and each year a number of tourists are lost. Oh on the visa front they will only issue 6 month visa's but you can come back or go to another country for a week or two and apply for another from that country, for instance I know people who go to Hong Kong or Malasia for the week, and then return. Anyway I wish you luck with the search. My partner and I are looking into possibly Florida, and buying a condo or mobile home! I think thats going to be just as hard!

Welcome to the forum, and thank you for the information. However, you've resurrected an old thread here. Thank you for the information, but I originally posted this a long time ago, and no one has been back for over four months. It might be better to start a new post with this advice than to add it to an old and fairly long thread.

Hello Synthia, nice to hear from you, I have found the replies I have had really very useful. Although it seems to be harder and harder to be an 'ex-pat' these days!! Well outside europe for british people anyway. Had a very interesting piece of info on buying proprty in the states, was totally unaware that you are are taxed every year between 10-20% of your proprty value......a real put off its true! Well may be going back to plan one, buying in Egypt - Sharm el Sheik- Red Sea no such taxes, and condo's at around £25K - £30K for 100 year leasehold. Although as a foreigner you cannot buy there freehold, they do not restrict your time on your visa. I would still welcome any info on buying in Florida from other forum members.